Tape dispenser



C. E. WRIGHT TAPE DISPENSER May 28, 1946.

Filed April 5, 1945 Patented May 28, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TAPE DISPENSER Charles E. Wright, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Application April 5, 1945, Serial No. 586,748

8 Claims.

This invention relates to dispensing devices for adhesive tapes of various kinds, and particularly to that form known to the public as Scotch tape, which is available in rolls of various widths and diameters. It is distributed in the form of an annular roll package, with the tape wound in successive convolutions or circular layers on a central tubular core.

This strip tape is of an extremely tenacious character and is of an extremely thin film-like nature, as a result of which it is quite diflicult to locate the so-called free end of the strip when starting to unwind the tape from the roll. Various forms of dispensing devices have been provided heretofore for rotatably supporting the roll and for preventing the free end of the strip from becoming lost on the face of the roll, after the unwinding of the tape from the roll has been started and a. length of the tape severed from the strip near the periphery of the roll. Such dispensing devices are usually provided with a knife bladehaving a serrated edge and a fiat face adjacent the serrated face against which the adhesive side of the tape is pressed when tearing a length of the strip from the roll for use.

These dispensing devices usually consist of a frame including two side members connected by a flat base for supporting the structure and the side members are provided with inwardly extending trunnions at one end of the frame which are adapted to project into the tubular core of the roll, for rotatably supporting the roll in the frame. The knife for severing the strip and retaining the free end of the strip in convenient position for future use extends transversely of the frame, at the opposite end thereof, with sufficient space provided between the outer periphery of the roll and the inner edge of the knife to afford entrance of ones, finger therebetween for releasing the end of the strip from the flat face of the knife when wishing to withdraw more tape from the roll.

Such dispensing devices, especially those provided for the rolls of larger diameters and greater widths, are necessarily large and take up considerable space on the top of ones desk, for example.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a highly efficient dispensing device which will be totally supported and carried on and by the annular roll solely, and which will be arranged to travel around the roll under the impetus of the tape a it is being unwound therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to make the device of such relatively small proportions as to permit the roll, with the dispensing device mounted thereon, to be stored in a relatively small space, such as in the drawer of ones desk.

Another object of the invention is to construct the device in such a manner that it may be readily applied to and removed from the annular roll of tape; and by which the device may be readily adjusted with respect to the roll to compensate for variations in the diameter of the outer periphery of the roll due to withdrawal of the tape therefrom.

Another object of the invention resides in making the parts of the device from pressed sheet metal, whereby they may be produced and assembled on a production basis, at a minimum of cost.

The construction and operation of the device will be more readily understood upon reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a partly used roll of tape having the device mounted thereon for normal operation; and

Fig. 2 is a detached perspective view of the component parts of the device in separated relation with respect to each other.

The dispenser A comprises two relatively separable parts al and a2 respectively which are adapted to be telescopingly fitted together to straddle the face of the roll and preferably pass completely around one side of the annular package or roll B of adhesive tape T which is wound in successive spiral convolutions or layers on a tubular core member in the form of a ring b.

The part al of the dispenser A comprises a top plate I which extends across or transversely to the peripheral face of the roll B and circumferturned tongues I4, which collectively form guides or sockets I5,|5 for reception of the legs 3,3 of the part al. The transverse edges of the plate I I are provided with downwardly turned end flanges I2,I2 respectively.

when installed on the roll B, the cross-plate I of the part al is adapted to rest and ride on the outer convolution of the tape T, while the cross-plate II of the part 112 is adapted to ride freely against the inner surface of the core ring b of the annular roll B.

The parts are relativel adjustable radially with respect to each other and to the roll B to compensate for the progressive reduction in the outside diameter of the roll as the tape T is withdrawn from the roll for use.

In order to retain the parts al and a2 in operative relation to each other, and to provide for the aforesaid adiustability therebetween, the legs of one of said parts, for example the legs I3 of the part a2 are provided with one or more suitthe cooperation of the protuberances I8 and the II for releasing the free end of the tape from the holding surface of the blade 8.

As the diameter of the roll decreases the two parts al and a? of the dispenser A may be readily adjusted with respect to each other to insure smooth traveling of the device circumferentially around the roll B and adjustment is retained by recesses I'I formed in the legs 3 and II of the able conical, spherical or other suitably shaped protuberances or projections I6 which are adapted to enter or otherwise cooperate with one or more of a series of openings I'I formed in each of the legs of the other said part, for example the legs 3 of the part al. Obviously any suitable frictional or other equivalent arrangement may be provided for retaining the two parts al and a2 in correct operating relation to each other on the annular roll B and to afford the relative adjustability between theparts to compensate for reduction inthe size of the roll without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The outside cross-plate I of the part (II is recessed at 5, across the full width thereof for passage of the tape T therethrough. Along one transverse edge of the recess 5, the material of the cross-plate I is curled upwardly and preferably backwardly over the plate I, as indicated at 6, to provide a rounded edge on a cross bar I which is formed by the recessing of the crossplate I and about which the tape is turned and travels while being withdrawn from the roll in the direction of the arrow 1:, Fig. 1.

Withdrawal of the tape T from the roll in the direction of the arrow :1: causes said tape to bear against the curled edge 8 of the cross bar I and pull the dispensing device A, as a whole, in the direction of the arrow 11, circumferentially of the annular roll B.

A portion 8 of the material constituting the cross-plate I, which is displaced from the plane of the plate to provide the recess 5 therein, extends upwardly or outwardl from the plane of the plate I and is bent sharply in the direction of the circumference of the roll, to form a fiat faced knife blade 9. The blade 9 is provided with a serrated edge I0 for cutting the tape T, when said tape is moved in the direction of the arrow z, Fig. l, i. e. from its broken line position to its full line position as shown therein, said cutting being accomplished by pressing the tape T downwardly against the upper plain flat surface of the knife blade 9 which then holds the free end it of the tape T in position for future use and against the possibilities of its becoming lost on the outer surface of the roll B.

As shown in Fig. 1 the flat face of the blade 9 is sufllciently elevated above the plane of the cross-plate I and the outer convolution of the roll to afford sufllcient space III for a person to insert a finger, or some implement, such as a pencil, etc., to release the free end t of the tape T from the flat face of the blade 9, when wishing to withdraw more tape from the roll B.

The side edges of the upright support 8 for the blade 8 may be recessed as indicated at I8, to facilitate entrance of the fingers into the space two parts al and a2 respectively.

Complete removal of the dispenser A from a roll B is readily accomplished by withdrawing the legs 3 of the part al from the sockets or guideways IS on the legs I3 of the part :22; and assembling of the device on a new roll is readily accomplished by reversing the order of disassembling.

I claim:

1. A dispensing device for adhesive tape wound in an annular roll, said device being adapted to be totally supported by said roll solely and to travel circumferentially around said roll under impetus of said tape being unwound from said roll, said device comprising an outer element adapted to straddle the outer peripheral face of said roll said element including a plate adapted to bear on said outer peripheral face, a pair of legs depending from said plate and adapted to lie adjacent opposite end faces respectively of said roll, an inner element adapted to lie intermediate said legs and be engageable with the inner peripheral face of said roll to retain said device thereon for movement therearound, and means on said outer element engageable by said tape for causing said device to travel around said roll as said tape is moved in one direction relative to said roll to unwind tape therefrom,

2. A dispensing device for adhesive tape wound in an annular roll, said device being adapted to be totally supported by said roll solely and to.

travel circumferentially around said roll under impetus of said tape being unwound from said roll, said device comprising an outer element adapted to straddle the outer peripheral face of said roll said element including a plate adapted to bear on said outer peripheral face, a pair of legs depending from said plate and adapted to lie adjacent opposite end faces respectively of said roll, an inner element adapted to lie intermediate said legs and be engageable with the inner peripheral face of said roll to retain said device thereon for movement therearound, a pair of legs on said inner element adapted to lie adjacent said legs of said outer element respectively. de means on one of said pair of legs engageable respectively with the other of said pair of legs for afiording relative adjustment of said inner and outer elements relative to each other and to said inner and outer peripheral faces of said roll, and means on said outer element engageable by said tape for causing said device to travel around said roll as said tape is moved in one direction relative to said roll to unwind tape therefrom.

3. A dispensing device for adhesive tape wound in an annular roll, said device being adapted to be totally supported by said roll solely and to travel circumferentially around said roll under impetus of said tape being unwound from said roll, said device comprising an outer element adapted to straddle the outer peripheral face of said roll said element including a plate adapted to bear on said outer peripheral face, a pair of legs depending from said plate and adapted to lie adjacent opposite end faces respectively of inner peripheral face of said roll to retain said device thereon for movement therearound, a pair of legs on said inner element adapted to lie adjacent said legs of said outer element respectively, guide means on one of said pair of legs engageable respectively with the other of said pair of legs for affording relative adjustment of said inner and outer elements relative to each other and to said inner and outer peripheral faces of said roll, cooperating means on said legs for retaining said elements in said adjusted position, and means on said outer element engageable by said tape for causing said device to travel around said roll as said tape is moved in one direction relative to said roll to unwind tape therefrom.

4. A dispensing device for adhesive tape wound in an annular roll, said device being adapted to be totally supported by said roll solely and to travel circumferentially around said roll under impetus of said tape being unwound from said roll, said device comprising an outer inverted U-shaped element including an outer cross-plate and parallel depending legs at opposite sides thereof for straddling the outer peripheral face and opposite end faces of said roll, an inner element including an inner cross-plate engageable with the inner peripheral surface of said roll and including a pair of parallel depending legs at opposite sides of said inner plate respectivelyadjacent the depending legs of said outer crossplate, laterally. extending inwardly turned tongues on one leg of one plate at each side of said plates embracing the adjacent leg of the other of said plates for guiding said plates for relative movement perpendicular to the planes of said plates to retain said device in operative relation to said roll. 5. A dispensing device for adhesive .t apewound in anannular roll, said device being adapted to be totally supported by said roll solely and to travel circumferentially around said roll under impetus of said tape being unwound from said roll, said device comprising means engageable with said roll to retain said device thereon for movement therearound, means engageable by said tape for causing said device to travel around said roll as said tape is moved in one direction relative to said roll to unwind tape therefrom, means for cutting said tape transversely when said tape is moved in an opposite direction, and means for supporting the cut end of the tape from contact with the peripheral face of the roll after cutting.

6. A dispensing device for adhesive tape wound in an annular roll, said device being adapted to be totally supported by said roll solely and to travel circumferentially around said roll under impetus of said tape being unwound from said roll, said device comprising a plate adapted to lie adjacent the outer peripheral surface of said roll and complementary means engageable witli said roll to retain said device thereon for movement therearound, said plate having an opening therein for passage of the tape therethrough, a cross bar at one end of said opening engageable by said tape for causing said device to travel around said roll as said tape is moved in one direction relative to said roll to unwind tape therefrom, and means at the opposite end of said opening for cutting said tape transversely when said tape is moved in an opposite direction.

'7. A dispensing device for adhesive tape wound in an annular roll, said device being adapted to be totally supported by said roll solely and to travel circumferentially around said roll under impetus of said tape being unwound from said roll, said device comprising a plate adapted to lie adjacent the outer peripheral surface of said roll and complementary means engageable with said roll to retain said device thereon for movement therearound, said plate having an opening therein for passage of the tape therethrough, a cross bar at one end of said opening engageable by said tape for causing said device to travel around said roll as said tape is moved in one direction relative to said roll to unwind tape therefrom, and a fiat blade disposed in a plane elevated above the plane of said plate adjacent the opposite end of said opening and provided with a cutting edge for cutting engagement by said tape when moved in an opposite direction, said flat blade supporting the free end of said tape after being cut transversely by said edge.

8. A dispensing device for adhesive tape wound in an annular roll, said device being adapted to be totally supported by said roll solely and to travel circumferentially aroundsaid roll under impetus of said tape being unwound from said roll, said device comprising a plate adapted to lie adjacent the outer peripheral face of said roll, said plate having an opening for passage of said tape therethrough, means connected to said plate and engageable with said roll to retain said device thereon for movement therearound, means at one end of said opening engageable by said tape for causing said device to travel around said roll as said tape is moved in one direction relative to said roll to unwind tape therefrom, an upright projecting upwardly from said plate at the opposite end of said opening, a flat blade at the upper end of said upright and disposed at an angle to said upright, a serrated edge on said flat blade for cutting said tape transversely when said tape is moved in an opposite direction, said flat blade being adapted to support the cut end of the tape from contact with the peripheral face of the roll after cutting.

CHARLES E. WRIGH'I'. 

